A prisoner is on the run after breaking out of a prison van as it stopped to refuel in Dannevirke late on Wednesday.
David Lothien was being taken from Waikato to Manawatu for sentencing on a serious assault charge.
A police spokesperson says the 21-year-old has connections in the area and are asking people to report sightings of him.
Lothien is 186 centimetres tall, was wearing green overalls, and has a cast on his left arm.
